Frank Cepollina

Frank J. "Cepi" Cepollina (born December 6, 1936) is an American engineer and inventor who worked for NASA. He is associated with the Hubble Space Telescope. He is referred to as "the Godfather of Satellite Servicing". While growing up, he learned how to solve mechanical problems working on his grandfather's tractors. When it began to fail several months into orbit, Cepollina led the repair mission, which began in 1984. The mission was successful, and the modular craft concept proved effective. Cepollina was subsequently named Satellite Servicing Project Manager.

Cepollina was tasked with repairing the Hubble Space Telescope. Having worked on the development of its modular design, as well as its command and control subsystem, Cepollina knew the Hubble's systems well, and the issue was later identified as 375 miles above Earth- a flawed mirror. NASA discovered that this had been caused by a miscalculation which made the telescope incapable of focusing sharply.

Cepollina led other repair and improvement missions for Hubble in 1997, 1999, 2002, and 2009. He became the Deputy Associate Director for the Hubble Space Telescope Development Project.

His work has led to developments in other industries, including a method of detecting breast cancer, as well as more powerful microchips that used Hubble-type optics and manufacturing applications employing an intelligent, programmable, hand-held power tool.

Awards

In May 2003, he was inducted into the National Inventor's Hall of Fame for his pioneering concept of in-orbit satellite servicing in May 2003.

Personal life Cepollina is married to Ann. They have four children. His hobby is modeling O gauge railroads.